Family, Community Resume Search Efforts For Missing Elijah Vue

Elijah Vue, 3, was reported missing from Two Rivers Feb. 20, 2024. (Photo source: Two Rivers Police Dept.)

MANITOWOC COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Wednesday marked 16 days in the search for three-year-old Elijah Vue, who was reported missing Feb. 20 from Two Rivers.

The Vue family halted their search efforts on Monday and Tuesday, but were back canvassing Manitowoc County Wednesday. The search has gained nationwide attention.

With the Two Rivers and Manitowoc communities working tirelessly to find the boy, residents say it’s been tough on everyone in the area.

“It’s been quite emotional,” said Dawn Rauen of Manitowoc. “You wake up in the morning and that’s pretty much all you think about, and go to bed at night and it’s all you think about.”

People like Rauen and Yolanda Godfrey have been involved in search efforts since Elijah was reported last seen. They say they want to help in any way they can to find Elijah.

“I go to work, and I’m like, ‘Okay, what can I do to get out there and help?'” said Godfrey, who is from Two Rivers.

Over the last few days, searches have been primarily focused in rural areas. With that in mind, Godfrey checked a wooded area in Two Rivers she didn’t believe was initially searched.

“10 blocks from my house this happened, and he’s three,” said Godfrey. “So I can’t sit back knowing that I have the day and I could be out here walking and looking and doing whatever I have to do.”

In an update from police Tuesday, authorities said they’re still working to gather surveillance footage of a beige Nissan Altima they believe is connected to Vue’s disappearance.

Police are specifically looking for footage from Feb. 19 between 2 and 9 p.m. Police say the vehicle is not owned by Vue’s mother, Katrina Baur, or her boyfriend, Jesse Vang, who have both been jailed on charges of child neglect.

The vehicle has a Wisconsin license plate that starts with the letter ‘A’ and ends in the number zero (0).

As the public waits for more information from police, they aren’t giving up in their efforts to bring Elijah home.

I don’t know Elijah I don’t know the family at all but it just takes a toll I think on everybody that is involved and everybody who has come together has the same outlook and feelings that, you know, we’re all just looking for Elijah,” said Rauen.

Baur and Vang appear in court Thursday.

The City of Two Rivers is actively taking donations to help fund search and investigation efforts.

If you’d like to donate, click here.